The Bonnie Badger

My goodness what a treat! Our regular girls night came here on a whim and were absolutely delighted by the tasteful decor, lovely food (bangers and mash much recommended and they gave us delightful vegetable crisps), heavy quality glasses, luxurious bathrooms and peaceful beer garden to the rear. An absolute hit!

Bonnie Badger Review – Disappointing 5-Star Experience I planned a two-day trip to Scotland, starting with a night at the Bonnie Badger in Gullane. As a long-time admirer of Tom Kitchin’s passion on TV, I was excited to stay at this AA-voted “best restaurant with rooms.” At over £400 for one night including dinner, expectations were high. Unfortunately, the experience fell short. I arrived slightly early after a long drive and was made to feel like an inconvenience. The welcome was cold, the tour perfunctory, and I was left awkwardly in the garden bar without being offered a drink or any clarity about where I should be. My room wasn’t ready at the promised time, and I had to chase it up myself. The cottage room was fine, but small details like a faulty TV remote and a ticked box approach to service chipped away at the luxury feel. Service lacked warmth and attentiveness throughout. Dinner in the Stables started well with decent service, but the food was underwhelming. The amuse bouche—a basic cheese puff—felt lazy. My scallop starter with Grenobloise sauce was overpowered by the sauce, making the scallops nearly tasteless. The haggis main was deep-fried in breadcrumbs, which dulled its flavour and left me crunching long after. The potato mousseline was bland, and the turnip fondants couldn’t stand up to the strong whisky sauce. Dessert was awkward to eat and forgettable. At nearly £90 including service, it didn’t justify the price. Breakfast was okay, but the standout was the flapjacks handed out at checkout. Sadly, no one genuinely asked about my experience—because no one seemed to care. At this price point, guests should feel valued and indulged. The Bonnie Badger failed to deliver either. First-class travel teaches you the difference between trained politeness and genuine care. Here, I felt like an outsider who should be grateful just to be allowed in. That’s not luxury—it’s a missed opportunity.

Went for the garden restaurant on a sunny day. Met a waiter on entry. Asked if serving food, if I may sit in the garden, and for the menus. Waiter didn’t know what to do. Found a seat in the garden. The Garden is squalid and not a garden. Waiter brought me two menus after quite some time. Knew there were 3 menus. Ordered the Highland wagyu burger. Bun was stale and broke up in my hands. Raisins dropped out covered in a slime like chutney when I picked it up to eat it. Patty was disproportionately small and too small for a hearty burger. Big slice of tomato. Tomato was not high quality. The patty was overcooked and not high quality. Served with ‘Koffman’ fries. I’ve seen a video of Koffman making fries. These were not Koffman fries. Small and dry. Didn’t feel good after eating. Walked through the ‘pub’ which doesn’t look like a traditional pub - colourful couches which appeared to be cushioned with the mass manufactured foam sold commercially.